Tomova Into European Semifinals

Viktoria Tomova from Bulgaria reached the semifinals of the Under 14 European Championships in Pilcen, Czech Republic as in the semifinals she defeated the tenth seed De Sutter from Belgium in straight sets 6-1 6-2. In the first round Viki defeated ukrainian Viktorya Lushkova in straight sets 6-1 6-0. In the second round she had a harder match against unseeded Karia Popovic from Croatia 6-3 6-1. After that she made a quick work against Montenegrian Vladica Babic 6-0 6-1.
In this tournament there was another bulgarian competitor in the face of Julia Terziyska who reached the third round after a hard fought victory against Sandra Savvest from Estonia 6-3 4-6 6-2 and after that lost to the fifth seed from Germany Barbara Haas in straight sets 6-2 6-4.
Julia and Tomova are showing incredible form as Viki won 19 of her 19 matches of the year on the way to victory in the 1st category tournament in Maia, Livorno and Paris(a.k.a Children Rolland Garros) and wining the under 14 nationatinal tournament of Bulgaria in Devin as in the final she defeated Julia Terziyska in straight sets. The in the doubles tournament Viki and Julia won categoricly the doubles crown also. (Julia Terziyska, Victoria Tomova and Tsveta Dimitrova) Julia was expected to reach atleast the 3rd round as she won the consolation tournament in BNP Paribas Cup (a.k.a Children Rolland Garros) after loosing in the second round of the main tournament.
In doubles Viki and Terziyska lost in a dramatical outlasting match against belgian pair of De Sutter and Benoit, who are the second seeds, 6-7(5) 6-3 10-12 and this way Tomova left the only bulgarian in all three european tournaments although it was expected Dimitar Kuzmanov the number one to 16 years to win but he lost in the third round to a player from Great Britain.

Evtimova Digs Deeper

Dia Evtimova from Bulgaria won her second round encouter against romanian Karina Goia 6-1 6-2 and reached the quaterfinal where she will meet unseeded Ioana Gasper who reached the quaterfinals after another bulgarian Tanya Germanlieva withdrew because of an injury after her doubles match yesterday. Evtimova started the match incredible well, breaking freely and making incredible shots from the baseline on the way to the quaterfinals. The number one seed in Buchurest will have to face an opponent who`s highest ranking is 258 and in the first round defeated another romanian Christina Dimitrescu in straight sets 6-4 6-3. The two girls have never met before and both have reached ranking round 250 which should tell us that this match will be very interesting.
Dia and Tanya are in the Qualifying draw in Istanbul WTA tournament and it will be nice to see them play on a big tournament.

Kostova Keeps Bulgarian Hopes

Elitsa Kostova keeps bulgarian hopes for a good performance this week as she defeated Vieviene Vierrin 6-2 6-2 at 25,000$ Mount De Marsan in France and in the next round she will face Nika Ozgerovic from Croatia who defeated number five seed Veronica Spiegel from Germany 6-2 6-2. The girl that defeated the number five seed met at the Bal 10,000$ tournament Elitsa Kostova in her debut and didn`t even gave her one game. But since then Elitsa changed alot and now is alot better player lets hope she will be able to defeat her opponent and reach her second quaterfinal at 25,000$ tournament of the year. She has reached the semifinals in Las Palmas De Gran Canaria and the quaterfinals of 2 other tournaments. She has reached 2 second round at twenty five hundred tournaments also.

In the 10,000 tournament in Turkey, Istanbul Aleksandrina Naydenova made a horrible appearence and lost in three sets to the qualifier Ofri Lankri who she defeated last year as she gave her just 3 games. Number seven seed however takes 1 point and 190 dollars from the prize money. Her next tournament will be in Rabat 10,000$ where she should be number 4 seed.

Germanlieva Injured

Today in Buchurest was the most sad day for bulgarian tennis as the only victory was achieved by Tanya Germanlieva who althought got injured in the doubles match.
Tanya faced Marta Stoyanova another bulgarian in the first round and totally demonilished her with the result 6-1 6-0. But later in the afternoon she lost in her doubles match together with Christina Mandalina Stancu from Romania to the number 4 seeds 4-6 3-6. After the match Tanya withdrew from the tournament and sended her opponent into the quaterfinals. This is bad news for Tanya who have reached semifinal and two finals in her last four tournaments.
Dalia Zafirova continued her bad strak against Alice-Andrada Radu as today she lost 6-4 6-7(6) 0-6. Later that day in another dramatic match but this time in doubles Zafirova and Hristea the number one seeds lost 6-1 2-6 10-12 and with that lose the only bulgarian left in the tournament is Dia Evtimova who double bageled her opponent in the first round.

Naydenova Into Second Round

Aleksandrina Naydenova from Bulgaria won her opening match in the 10,000$ in Istanbul as she defeated the wildcard from Turkey 15 year old Cemre Anil. Aleksandrina started the match perfectly and never gave even the smalest change for Anil to think about the victory as she won 6-2 6-2 and in the second round she will face qualifier Ofri Lankri who defeated Tammi Patterson from Australia 7-5 4-6 6-3. Interesting fact is that Ofri defeated Lyutfia Velieva in the second and final qualifying round 7-5 6-3.
Another important fact is that Aleksandrina already has a victory over Lankri in the juniors last year when she gave her just 3 games wining 6-1 6-2 in a South American junior tournament. Aleksandrina lost her opening round in doubles with her partner Kovarcikova losing to the number 2 seed 4-6 4-6. Sister Velieva showed incredible doubles strength against the pair of Abduraimova and Hopper defeating them 6-3 6-1. The Uzbekistan-australian pair have won 8 of they`re last 9 matches as they won the tournament in Gazianterp and lost in the semifinals of Izmir tournament. In they`re next round they will meet the executers of Naydenova`s team the number 2 seeds Schivetti and Shlomo.

Flying start for bulgarians in Buchurest

The bulgarians made a flying start at the 10,000$ tournament in Buchurest as today they won they`re 3 out of 3 matches - one single and 2 doubles amd each bulgarian scored a victory.
Fist Dia Evtimova gave a real lesson in tennis to 15 year old Ioana Daniela Bighiu as she didn`t gave her even one game on to way to the victory 6-0 6-0. In the next round Dia will have an a qualifyier for an opponent in the face of Karina Goia from romania. Dia is the number one seed in the main draw.
In one of the two doubles matches with a bulgarian bulgarian Tanya Germanlieva and Christina Mandalina Stancu (Rou) faced the all romanian duo of Platon and Dimitresco which gave a real run for they`re money. Anyway although Tanya and her partner lost the first set they won the match 3-6 7-5 10-5 and in the next round they will face another all romanian duo in the face of Danaila and Hincu who won they`re match easyly 6-1 6-1.
Dalia Zafirova and her partner Camelia-Elena Hristea, who are the number one seeds, didn`t have any problem in they`re first round and they beated the macedonian and russian duet of Porubin and Sovaeva 6-1 6-2 and now they will face another all romanian duo of Enache and Constantin in the doubles quaterfinals.

Bulgarian rush next week

Next week there will be big bulgarian invasion in the tournaments and maybe the most important is that Elitsa Kostova is going to play directly in the main draw in France at the 25,000 $ tournament. Elitsa reached the second round in Contrexeville 50,000 $ this week and lost in three sets to Bychkova who is ranked number 153 in the world.

Next there is the tournament in Buchurest, Romania where Dia Evtimova, Dalia Zafirova and Tanya Germanlyeva will be as it follows number 1, 2 and 6 seed. Dia reached the semifinals in the doubles event in Contrexeville and maybe the most important is that Dalia is on 5 match wining streak as she won the tournament in Prokuplje as in the final she beat Alexandra Krunic a very talented serbian player. Tanya has reached semifinal, 2 finals and lost one in the first round in her last 4 tournaments which is very impresive. There is a big oppurtunity for an all bulgarian final as the top 2 seeds are bulgarians. Elitsa Kostova

Then there is the tournament in Istanbul - Yelsirut in Turkey where Aleksandrina Naydenova who reached the final in Melilla and lost in the quaterfinals of Izmir tournament to number one seed 1-6 1-6 will be number 8 seed. She had bad luck in Izmir as she got in the quater with Ozgen who is the only left seed in the draw now.

In Lexington, USA 50,000 $ tournament bulgarian veteran Svetlana Krivencheva will be playing the qualifies. Lets wish them all luck as they need to get up the ranking...